I'm away with work for two weeks and thus cannot access my Bomber Command Losses or War Diary books.....could some kind soul look up the details relevant to the poor chap mentioned? All I have is his CWGC entry.

525073 F/Sgt James Coulton - KiA 16/12/43 106 Squadron (Lancaster)

Many thanks.

13th January 2020, 06:21

CZ_RAF

Hi, if you would check our DB you will get he was lost on Lancaster III JB638

Chorley has them crashing at Achmer 4 kms WSW of Bramsche All were buried in Achmer then moved to Reichwald. According to Theo Boiten’s latest they we’re shot down by Oblt Hans-Heinz Augenstein of 7/NJG1 for his 21st victory.

Do you need the rest of the crew of the Lancaster?

Cheers,

John.

13th January 2020, 10:48

skypilot

Gentlemen, thank you so much for the rapid response.

Paved - I had tried all kinds of searches to no avail, thank you for the quick link.

Peter - The snippet about his birth is interesting as I have extensive details on his family, all of whom are from Newcastle but could not find him. Ormskirk is very left field but who knows? E was born three years before his parents were married so there is a story there somewhere although sadly, nobody left to unravel it.

John - thank, that’s perfect. If you don’t mind posting the crew and their role, that would be lovely.

The next piece of the puzzle is to find out how his brother, George Collins Coulton died whilst serving with the RAOC in 1947 - he too has a CWGC headstone.

Thank you again, it truly is appreciated by the family of James, who knew none of this information, not even that he was in the RAF or even existed - a long story, not for here.

13th January 2020, 12:08

Resmoroh

skypilot,

Possible parents marriage is:
Q4 1919 George Collins Coulton m Elizabeth J C Anderson (Reg Newcastle T. 10b 161).
Now whether her third forename was Coulton, and had been unofficially 'added', may take an expert genealogist to disembramgle! But of his brother had the same name as his father(??) then that complicates matters! Good luck!
HTH
Peter Davies

As a footnote Augenstein was shot down and killed on 6/7 December 1944 by F/Lt E R Hedgecoe in a Mosquito of 85 Sqn and it crashed at 10 km N W of Munster-Handorf, his total was 46 victories. I do have a photo of him if you want it, contact me on harleyDOT158ATbigpondDOTcom replace the DOT & AT with the usual.
Also S/L E R Hedgencoe with a score of 8 or 9 was killed on 1 January 1945 when he took off in bad weather and crashed and was killed with 151 Sqn.

Regards,

John.

13th January 2020, 22:11

skypilot

That's the family, Peter. I have everyone else but James was not featured anywhere until I discovered him on his brother's CWGC entry. Having spoken to the family this evening, they have been in tears with the news and are overjoyed to learn about James and his albeit tragically short life.